Standing in Solidarity Against Hatred

The City of Richmond has six sister cities: Richmond upon Thames ENGLAND, Saitama JAPAN, Zhengzhou CHINA, Windhoek NAMIBIA, Olsztyn POLAND, and Segou MALI. We stand together in agreement with the following Sister Cities International statement, in solidarity against hatred:

Teenage girl selling fruit and juices at the Festival on the Niger in Segou, Mali, in 2010.

Sister Cities International Members and Friends,

We are saddened to hear about the continued abuse and violence toward the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Heightened by the pandemic, violence towards the AAPI community has been increasing at a frightening rate.

While we acknowledge that anti-Asian rhetoric is unfortunately not a new phenomenon, it is discouraging and disheartening to see its terrible effects in our communities.

Sister Cities International is an organization that values the building of cultural bridges, and the acts that we are witnessing in this time are much too reminiscent of past mistakes that have hurt communities immensely. The profound harm caused by racism, hate, and discrimination is fatal, and we condemn it deeply.

Our organization seeks to create citizen diplomacy, and this can only be done through the appreciation and cherishing of other cultures. We strive to use our organization to fight against systemic racism in our society and institutions. It is important to us that we ensure that all spaces are inclusive and equitable, providing a space where all can feel valued and safe in their diversity.

It is vital to repudiate these hateful acts, as well as the actors, to protect our communities and ensure safety and appreciation during these difficult and heartbreaking times.

Sister Cities International condemns racism, hate, discrimination and violence in all forms. We stand proudly in solidarity with our AAPI community in fighting against this hatred.

Comments

VFOM member visits AUPAP sites

1st Adjoint to the Mayor M. NIANG, (Segou), Dace (SCI), Adjoint (Segou), Dana (VFOM), Mayor O. SIMAGA (Segou) Our good friend and executive committee member Dana Wiggins left on August 19 and returns September 14 from her turn as AUPAP project monitor and defacto Richmond city ambassador to our twin city, Segou. Notre bon ami et membre du comité exécutif Dana Wiggins quitté le 19 août et retourne Septembre 14 à partir de son tour que AUPAP projet de surveiller et de facto ambassadeur de ville de Richmond a notre ville jumelle, Ségou. The following photos were taken in July and August and demonstrate that construction has been moving "full speed ahead" since funding and the rainy season arrived almost simultaneously. The Ségou contractors have been diligent and in spite of one wall collapse, Dana and Dace (Sister Cities International) have been able to confirm that a September completion date is likely. Les photos suivantes ont été prises en Juillet et Août et démo

Bamana symbols on bogolan

Segou’s musical triumph in Richmond

Bassekou Kouyaté and Ami Sacko feted by Richmonders at the Richmond Folk Festival Mali’s famous orchestra NGONI BA was the Toast of the Town at the Richmond Folk Festival. Led by ngoni magician Bassekou Kouyaté and his vocalist wife Ami Sacko, the orchestra of seven Malian musicians wowed the crowd, and ended the Festival at fever pitch as three or four thousand fans danced the evening away at the Dominian Dance Pavilion on Brown’s Island Sunday night, October 16th. Kouyaté is an ancient musical name in Mali. At Sunday’s banjo workshop with four of Virginia’s banjo masters, Bassekou explained how he had learned to play the ngoni from his father and grandfather, and how his ancestors were playing music and sang the sovereign’s praises seven hundred years ago at the court of the original Lion King, Sunjata Keita. The Lion King founded the Malian Empire in the year 1235, and his legend became famous through the songs of his griot Balafasé Kouyaté, ancestor of Bassekou the le

Virginia Friends of Mali

Search This Blog